Ethan's mind was set on overturning the established hierarchy in Los Angeles. Whether it was the hotel magnate, the restaurant mogul, or the delivery service owner, he planned to dismantle the dominance of these influential figures who had controlled the city for years. Among them, Tony was the first person who came to Ethan’s mind. Tony was a particularly bitter memory for Ethan, as he recalled his ex-wife Maya's taunts. “Look at Tony. His family is worth over a billion dollars. Can you even compare to him, you good-for-nothing?” she had said.Ethan's jaw tightened as he spoke to Clara. “I’ve heard that the West family is one of the top-tier families in Los Angeles, worth over a billion dollars. Is that true?”Clara responded, “You could say that. The West family was worth over a billion dollars two years ago, but their net worth has significantly dropped. They’re now probably worth around 500 million dollars, not much better than the Reynolds.”As Clara recalled Ethan’s claim from
Ethan was bewildered by Tony’s outburst. 'What’s wrong with this idiot? Does Tony West even have a functioning brain?'Ethan thought. 'What kind of nonsense is he spewing now?'Tony, convinced of his own cleverness, assumed he’d pieced everything together. He remembered Sarah and her colleagues talking about someone kneeling, and he surmised that Ethan must have been the one to kneel before Clara. He figured Ethan had begged for Clara’s forgiveness and pleaded to become her bodyguard.Tony smirked and taunted, “Ethan Sinclair, weren’t you so high and mighty at the birthday banquet? Miss Walport offered you a chance to be her bodyguard, and you turned her down. We all thought you were too proud to bow down. But now, here you are, groveling!”Tony laughed mockingly. “Haha, I didn’t expect you to get out of bed early and come here dressed as a bodyguard just to beg Miss Walport to let you be her lackey!”Turning to Clara, he added, “Miss Walport, don’t be fooled. During the banquet yeste
Maya’s frustration boiled over as she considered confronting Ethan and Clara directly. She longed to demand answers from Ethan about why he had kneeled for another woman and not her, and to accuse Clara of stealing what she felt was rightfully hers.Old Ms. Mimi, however, glared at Maya with disapproval and asserted, “Enough of your tantrum. Call Clara Walport. I want to speak with her personally.”Klein immediately complied, pulling out his cell phone and dialing Clara’s number with a swift motion. He handed the phone to Old Ms. Mimi, who took it with a resolute expression, ready to address the situation herself.Despite Old Ms. Mimi’s underlying anger, her voice remained calm and composed, reflecting her years of experience and dignity. She spoke with a measured authority, making her displeasure clear without losing her poise.“Miss Walport, I understand that Ethan has become your bodyguard. Had I known you had taken such an interest in him, I would have gladly offered him to you si
Ethan was wearing an immaculate Dior suit with his hair combed to the side. He was now chatting merrily with Clara.If Ethan weren't her ex-husband, Maya would have mistaken him for the domineering president of a company as she watched him stride over."This jerk dressed himself up so handsome after divorcing me!"Maya felt a pang of jealousy. If she had known that Ethan could look so much like a commanding executive, she would have insisted he wear a suit and tie throughout their marriage.Maya watched from a distance, feeling a pang of envy as she realized how impressive Ethan looked. If only she had been able to show him off at gatherings with her former classmates.Meanwhile, Ethan said to Clara, "Clara, pass me the car keys. I'll drive. Since you're wearing heels, it won't be convenient for you to drive."Clara had a pair of flats in her car that she usually changed into for driving. However, she felt that changing shoes in front of Ethan might seem awkward, so she handed the car
Seeing Maya sobbing pitifully, Ethan felt a pang of emotion. He had treated her like royalty during their marriage, always attentive and protective, ensuring she was never upset or mistreated. The sight of her now, so distressed and vulnerable, was a stark contrast to the pampered life she had once enjoyed. In the past, Ethan would have fiercely defended her if anyone had dared to lay a hand on her. Yet, he understood that Clara's slap was a gesture of support for him and a reflection of Maya's own actions. Despite his empathy, Ethan couldn’t ignore that Maya had brought this upon herself with her behavior and choices.Ethan placed a reassuring hand on Clara's shoulder and said gently, "Forget it." Turning to Maya, he added firmly, "Leave. I’m no longer your man."Maya abruptly stopped crying, her tears drying up in an instant. The facade of her emotional vulnerability had always been carefully guarded from Ethan. "Even if I no longer want a dog I've raised for three years, I won't
Even after driving out of the underground parking lot of the downtown office building, he could still hear Maya crying and whining. Maya had always been pompous and arrogant, so she clearly couldn't take being slapped in public. While driving, Ethan spoke to Clara, who was beside him. "Clara, you don't have to interfere in Maya and my affairs. "Do not slap her again." Clara could see Ethan was heartbroken for his ex-wife!Clara replied: "Yes, Mr Sinclair, but don't you hate her for treating you that way?" Ethan smiled and continued, "Love is the antithesis of hatred. Without love, how can there be hatred?" Clara no longer considered Ethan to be an inexperienced young man after hearing his quite thoughtful statements. As the scion of a distinguished family, his expertise and ideas were not to be overlooked. Ethan was gorgeous, came from an affluent family, had a unique perspective, and was very magnanimous and devoted to women. Clara started to fall for him.'I must win his heart!'
Ethan stepped into the office, his mind racing with thoughts of the previous evening. He and Clara had visited a trendy rooftop bar, but their interaction remained strictly professional. They quickly returned to work, leaving the lively atmosphere behind.As Ethan moved through the office, employees greeted him with a chorus of “Good morning, Mr. Sinclair.” He acknowledged them with a nod, his focus already shifting to the day’s tasks.Just as he was about to settle into his office, his phone buzzed. Alexander’s name flashed on the screen. Ethan frowned and answered the call, bracing himself for whatever urgent matter awaited.Alexander commanded, “Ethan, come to my grandmother’s place immediately. I’ve found evidence that you sold the watch you stole from us!”Ethan replied, “I’m too busy for that.”Alexander, growing impatient, retorted, “Ethan Sinclair, are you too scared to come? We’ve invited the person who bought the watch from you to our place. If you have any courage, come her
Old Ms. Mimi, a woman of immense wealth and influence, commanded respect both within her family and the broader community. Her assets were worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and her authority was unquestioned. However, she was deeply angered by Ethan’s persistent provocations and was determined to make him submit to her authority.At that moment, as she held her poodle, Lucky, in her arms, the dog suddenly leaped out and dashed towards Ethan.“Lucky!!”Ms. Mimi exclaimed in surprise, urgently calling for her pet. But Lucky ignored her and continued running towards Ethan.Ethan picked up Lucky with a broad smile, the poodle’s tail wagging furiously as it licked his hand with unrestrained joy. For the past three years, Ethan had been the one to meticulously care for Lucky. He cleaned up after the dog, took it to the vet for vaccinations, and nursed it back to health whenever it fell ill. This consistent care had forged a strong bond between them, making Ethan the person Lucky felt c